“The issue is plain and simple: There were protests because drivers and people want an immediate relief from the very high and still-increasing price of oil.”
This was labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno’s reaction to statements being made by the Aquino government regarding the Sept. 19 nationwide people’s protests and transport strikes, the latest of which aims to cast doubt on Piston secretary-general George San Mateo’s capacity to represent the transport sector.
KMU said the government should address the demands aired by the protests, instead of trying to drown these with diversionary tactics including provocative statements to the media.
In a press briefing yesterday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte cast doubt on the credentials of San Mateo, a leader of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide, in representing the transport sector.
“The Aquino government has been bombarding the media with statements about the Sept. 19 protests, without addressing our demands. It has not spoken about an immediate P9.00 rollback, the removal of VAT on petroleum products, and the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.
“It is showing a combination of desperation and arrogance – desperation in trying to hide its inaction and ineptitude, and arrogance in attacking protestors who come from the ranks of the poor,” he added.
“The Aquino government’s statements have made it very clear: it is the spokesperson of the Big 3 oil companies. It is no wonder the Big 3 sees no reason to respond to the demands made in our protests,” Labog said.
Genuine transport leader
KMU said San Mateo is a genuine transport leader and it will not dignify Valte’s malicious statements with a thorough reply.
“We stand by Ka George. He really comes from the transport sector and fights hard for the interest of the sector,” Labog said.
“We will not go into Ka George’s bio-data because we do not wish to dignify Valte’s malicious statements with a detailed reply. She is just doing the thankless job of hiding the indefensible from view – the Aquino government’s inaction on the people’s demands on the issue of oil prices,” he added. Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU Chairperson
